350 mn diabetics to double in 20 years (Diabetes is theme of World Health Day April 7)

New Delhi Diabetes a silent killer in the vast list of innumerable diseases especially associated with the urban population and the third leading risk factor for premature mortality after high blood pressure and tobacco use is preventable a top WHO official has saidRepresentational pictureYes a large proportion of diabetes is preventable WHO India representative Dr Henk Bekedamtold IANSRapid urbanisation sedentary lifestyle unhealthy diet and increasing life expectancy are the factors for the rising prevalence of diabetes Bekedam explainedThe disease is characterised as a condition in which the level of sugar glucose in the blood is high and affects around 350 million people worldwideAccording to WHO this number is likely to double within 20 yearsIndia alone has an estimated 67 million people living with diabetes of whom more than 90 percent are with type2 diabetesYet in the face of such alarming statistics the common man can prevent the onset of diabetesBut in the metros where people are continuously stretched between professional and personal commitments there is lack time to take up any physical activity compounded by cultivating unhealthy eating habitsGenetically Indians are prone to diabetes as they have more fat in their liver and pancreasIn addition the food consumed by the common man also contains high levels of sugar and fatldquoMaintaining a healthy weight through appropriate eating habits and following an active lifestyle is the key to prevent diabetes and also keep other risk factors like heart attack stroke and hypertension at bay Dr Anoop Misra executive chairman at the national capitals Fortis Hospital told IANSSuggesting various measures experts pointed out that maintaining the body mass index BMI is imperativeldquoThe BMI of a person should range between 2325 exceeding which the vulnerability of a person to diabetes increasesrdquo renowned dietician and nutritionist here Ritika Samaddar told IANSAlso food consumed needs to be closely monitored and both its quantity and quality should be checked on a regular basisldquoIt is advisable to cut down on the intake of sugar and simple carbohydrates such as rice potatoes and maida flourrdquo Samaddar addedFoods high in monounsaturated fat good fat and a healthy alternative to the trans fats and refined polyunsaturated fats found in most processed foods should be highly preferredldquoOils such as canola oil which has the least saturated fat than other culinary oils and is free of trans fat and cholesterol are a good optionrdquo Samaddar notedFinally following an active lifestyle is the need of the hour Exercise not only manages weight and maintains the right BMI but it also improves digestionThirty minutes of aerobic physical activity walking 15 minutes of activity during work 5 minutes walk every 23 hours and 1015 minutes of strength training with small weights can keep diabetes under control Misra statedDiabetes is also associated with comorbities like weight gain obesity hypertension and heart disease riskBlood glucose levels can be reduced through medication and lifestyle changesFurther monitoring the intake of sugar and opting for foods such as brown rice oats etc as opposed to fried foods can help diabetic patients to keep their disease under control Samaddar explainedMaintaining a disciplined life awareness about the disease and the preventive drugs are key instrument to prevent and control diabetesBy scaling up prevention strengthening care and enhancing surveillance beating up diabetes can be achievable task Bekedam concludedWorld Health Day Diabetes Health Diabetes facts Diabetes deaths health and wellness health and fitness